Lament.

There's absolutely no reason apart from sheer %&^$# laziness for me not to ride my bike to work today.

Fortunately, it's enough reason.

phase II

two more turns to build. mother nature is watering and getting the dirt to pack. i'm shooting for a november 5th finish date. looking for more dirt though, so if anyone knows of a place looking to get rid of some, please let me know!

Phase I Complete

I started work on the pump track in the backyard this week. So far, I have the layout and jumps marked. I'm hoping to add dirt after our next round of rain, so that it packs well. Here are some shots of the layout...oh yeah and my daughter will be monitoring heart rate levels and if anyone falls below 80% of the MHr, they will be delt several bashing with a wiffle ball bat! lol...kidding...

man.....

i know this platform is for bicycle stuff, however there are ties with bicycles and the unfortunate closing of a couple of businesses that have occurred over the last month. RIP Fitness Zone and soon the Finish Line.

i loved the fitness zone, because it WAS NOT a phoo phoo, stand around and look pretty gym. i loved it for the fact you went there to sweat and hurt!!! sad to see it go.

the Finish Line is a bummer because there had been times when i was in a pinch and they were able to bail me out with goggles, or something that transferred over from MX to BMX...

well, i've been sick for 3 weeks now. don't know what in the world is wrong with me, but i'm about to go nuts, because i haven't been able to smell or taste anything for about a week now. you just don't know how much you love the smell of things, until it's taken away. definitely an under rated sense.....lol....

have a good week!!!

2x4

Pump Track!

Got the approval to put in a pump track in the backyard today! Psyched!!!

ugh!

Upper Respiratory Infection is killing me! The weather is amazing today! Make the most of it!

Photo: Tucked and rollin' during the NBL Grands. HRP Photo

NBL Grands Photos

My team mate Jeremy Thompson and I during the 30 and over open motos. JT went on to capture the #1 35 and over expert title...

You can view more of the photos at http://www.idcbmx2.com/

2007 NBL Grands

The 2007 NBL Grands are in the books and I had a decent weekend. Saturday started off well, but then later in the 2nd round, my gate start became an issue. I made it through both rounds and then started off suckin’ in the gate again Sunday morning. Once I made it through the motos, I had a long talk with myself and said, “Dude, this is it, pull your head out of your butt and let’s take care of business.” So I go up for my 1/4 final in class and complete unclipped down the first straight. I try getting back in and make up points, but it was way too late for me. Down to 2 classes now, cruiser and 30 and over open. I hit the cruiser and FINALLY my gate is back and I scoot on into the semis. I was thinking of skipping my open moto and just save it all for cruiser, but I was like, “what the hell?!” and gave it a go. Gate drops and I destroy the gate and take the lead down the first straight. Mind you I have the current world champ and #1 Vet Pro in the moto. I finish that lap and that did wonders for my confidence! In the semi of the open moto I get another killer start and fall in behind Jason Carnes. Into the 2nd turn, big Shawn Diprite rolls by me, so I’m chillin’ in third. Down the last straight, Big Daddy Eric Rupe gets by us, then Shawn is slowing down and on our out side, we get passed by Domingos Lamogllia!!! 3rd to 5th….done in open.
Cruiser was left and I made the main for this one. 4 people are up for the title. Myself included. Gates drops….and I’m on the gas. Lead into the 2nd turn and all of the sudden I see blue and yellow! It scarred the crap out of me! So I follow Scott Moreland and try to make the move down the last straight, but didn’t have anything for him. So I end up 2nd and ranked #2 in the U.S. for the season.
Scott won the title and I’m glad it was him that beat me for it. Nothing against the other riders, because they are deserving too, but Scott has been almost like a big brother of sorts to me and I have the utmost respect for him.
Heard there were some roadies out there checking it out. Hoped they enjoyed it. Other locals jammed too and we have several young me and women that deserve a big pat on the back for their hard work.
The volunteers of Derby City BMX. Amazing!!! Absolutely the best team of volunteers that I have encountered in my 25 years of racing there! Not enough can be said of their work!
I hope to get some photos and maybe a link to some vids….
2×4

NBL Grand National

This weekend is the National Bicycle League's Grand National. Tons of people will be decending on Louisville from all over the world. They will be going on out at E.P. "Tom" Saywer State Park all weekend long. Friday night will be the UCI Pro Spectacular.

Here's an article done in the Indiana Weekly..

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/NEWS0201/708290731/1026

Videos of the century ride

Okay I'm going to do my first try of embedding videos into a blog. Wish me luck and cover me, I'm going in!

At 89 miles!


Debbie gets demanding. You can hear me yell at Melissa or John to please just talk and say something. Geez, I'm riding at 15 mph, looking backwards filming for gosh sakes!!!



Finally, I reach 100 miles. But there's a slight problem...

Derby City BMX Marathon Weekend

We had a barn-burner of a race for $500 buck-a-roos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHpRk0MUEGU

Where have I been?

Why training

for my first century of course. :) Just did it today. My husband, daughter and I went up to Kokomo this weekend and did the "Sizzlin' Century" ride. Yeah, we went to Kokomo on purpose because we didn't want any killer hills! But we've been training all summer in the Southern Indiana Knobs/Louisville area so we've had plenty of hill riding. What fun. I was even able to ride my bike and take pictures and

videos with my little digital camera. I have some videos up on youtube and I'm going to see if I can put up some images. Never tried that before.

I'm putting up one of us at the start and right when we finished.

A Bicycle In Church? Go on. Yeah, This Sunday.

    Somebody asked me to put together a service and I'm bringing my bike.  

   At 11 a.m. this Sunday, August 19, I'll have the pulpit at First Unitarian Church of Louisville, 809 S. Fourth St. (Across from the Louisville Free Public Library at York Street).  

   No, I am not an ordained minister, but Unitarians are open-minded and pretty relaxed about this stuff.  I'll be using my 880-mile bike trip to Niagara Falls this Spring as a metaphor in a talk touching on journeys, pilgrimage, and some of what we learn from life when in pursuit of an ideal.

  There's also a free coffee social afterwards if you feel like coming, on your bike or not, for a service out of the ordinary.  Some great local musicians (Gary Falk, sax, Jim Schweickert and Will Plummer on piano and New Albany's Tiffany Taylor, vocals) will also perform in the service.

Entry to the church is not on Fourth St, but off Library Alley at the back. 

I would usually offer to ride back to New Albany afterwards, but this week have to stay for a youth group meeting.

"Chips" Cronin Remembered; Sharrows dedicated on 2d Street Bridge

Hot day, hot pavement, gratitude for the wind.

I joined an estimated 2,300 cyclists on the Second Street Bridge at 2 p.m. today to celebrate the new "sharrows" and signage urging motorists to share the respective north- and southbound right lanes and to yield to bicyclists. 

While the Louisville Bicycle Club had been at work with the city to improve safety on the bridge, it was the death of Cronin (by an "inattentive" driver) that clearly fast-tracked getting the new signs and lane markings up.    In half an hour of pre-ride speeches to the choir, Cronin's brother-in-law, Ed Tonini, who is also head of advocacy for the LBC, said the Federal Highway Commission is allowing the new lane markings as a "pilot" program since they are not part of the existing signage inventory.

Mayor Abramson, made only a few brief remarks, the most significant perhaps being that he wants to make Louisville as cyclist-friendly a city as Portland, and in less time than it took Portland to accomplish its current status as a national leader.

Unfortunately, today was no demonstration as the entire bridge was closed to motorized traffic for the inaugural ride.  Cycling clubs and racing teams from both sides of the river went off first to do a lycra-rich, three miler over and back.  Many others followed, including families with children, people of all abilities, etc.  I even met a couple from St. Louis who had rented neat looking adult trykes at the concession near Joe's Crab Shack (at $10/hour) to join the ride.

A similarly large group broke off on the other side, I with them, to head out to Utica for a 20 or 30 mile loop.  It was a delight getting into a nice rhythm in a long stretched out line heading east on Utica Pike.  

I split off just past the Port to head up Utica-Sellersburg Road, get on Highway 62 and book it out to Charlestown where I was meeting family and friends at a pool party.  About 20 miles, hot pavement, and a bottle each of water and Gatorade to stay hydrated.

The bridge signage is an important event on the long road to raising awareness and safety while developing a "share the road" attitude around here.  Each of us should appreciate other's efforts to make progress and do what we can to support and extend it.

 

Seems like old times.

Popped a spoke on the way to work.

I almost miss that gentle "ping," but not quite.

UCI World BMX Championships

What a very long week! My bid to win the title for my class came to an end in the semi-finals on Sunday afternoon. Our class had 55 of the worlds best riders and I guess I should take some comfort in making it to the final 16.

My motos were awesome, with me riding right behind the current world champion. I was feeling awesome and felt that things were heading in the right direction and when it came time for my semi-final, I just blew my gate. I beat myself I guess. I can't tell you how much it hurt to come up short, especially with all the support I received.

I hope to have some video of the races soon and will post them.

Victoria, BC is b e a u t i f u l!!!! Bike lanes and bike shops everywhere!!! The obesity rate up there is pretty much opposite of what ours is here in the USA. The weather...perfect! Jackets at night, shorts for the day. Oh..and if you ever wondered where all the friendly customer service went....it's up in Canada!

I'll post more later...

2x4

NAC posting on attitudes toward bicycling.

New Albany could use a "positive spirit" enlargement pill when it comes to attitudes toward bicycling, but don't hold your breath.

NBL E. Moline National

Last weekend, I used the NBL's stop in E. Moline, IL. to warm-up for the Worlds. The moto count was very low for the race. Usually it's around 120ish and this weekend it was 75 for the first day and 68 for day two...bummer.

Day 1 was interesting, especially with a really bad cross wind that blew your bike from underneath you! I'm luck to have not eaten crap, because there were several times where I felt I was about to crash. I was able to score the win in the main, but dropped a perfect (winning all motos and main) due to hitting a roller and coming to a stopped and my buddy passing me. It's all good, I dropped one point, no biggie really...

Day 2 was picture perfect racing weather! Cool start, clear skies and most of NO WIND! Scored a perfect on day 2. That's all I can really say about the weekend.

I'm happy with my conditioning going into the Worlds and I feel that I've done my part as for training and being prepared physically, now it's just the game of not letting my head take me out of the it! I had a bought of doubt yesterday....the nerves just kicked in and it's a usually thing here....

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Tommy

A Proposed Response to George Cronin's Death on the Second St. Bridge

Go to the "Advocacy" link at www.bikedepot.org/cbdcourier/ and then hit the tab for "A Cyclist's Death" at the top of the page.

It provides a detailed review of facts and the law related to George "Chips" Cronin getting hit and killed by a van while crossing the Second St. Bridge.  

It's worth a read by anyone disturbed by the fact no motorist who precipitates an "accident" has been charged in a pedestrian or cyclist death in Metro Louisville in the last couple years.   

If you support the proposed plan of action, you can email your support.

Beat Summer Heat with "8 o'clockers" -- 33.3 miles

Summer heat can sap your desire for a long ride or a workout.  So, I find myself tending towards "8 o'clockers", either early in the morning or later in the evening, to enjoy myself in these peak summer months.  Getting out early this past weekend meant temperatures in the 60's up here in western Floyd County and good summer riding.

Saturday, going solo, I combined two of my favorite loops from my home two miles west of Floyd Central H.S. for a nice 33.3 mile ride.

SOUTH SKYLINE LOOP

I first headed east on Old Vincennes Road up to the Luther Road stop sign, hung a left to go east and continued to cross U.S. 150 and on down to Paoli Pike were a right takes you to the light at Scottsville Road.  The Hobknobb Roasting company is a good stop there, but I was only 5 miles out and looked forward to a fresh cup when I was circling back about 10 miles later.

Turning left, go up to the next stop sign, St. Mary Road, and go right for a delicious, curvy roll along the base of Spickert and Moser Knobs.  It's shaded in the mornings and traffic is usually light unless its rush hour or school is just starting or getting out.  St. Mary's of the Knobs church is a nice place to stop, stretch and drink some water if you, or the less experienced riders with you need a short break.  The cemetery also has headstones from many older area families, some dating back to the early 19th century.

At the church, take a right to get on Campion Road and continue a meandering ride along the creek bed until you come to the marked intersection where Atkins Road goes north, Moser Knob Road, to your right, heads northeast straight up hill and So. Skyline Drive, also to your right, curves back right and southward.  

Atkins Road is the easiest way to get up on top of the knobs and, after a right turn at Von Allman a couple miles later,  makes for a sweet ride along the ridge crest on North Skyline back to Moser Knob where you can hapilly come down the hill back to Campion.  If you want a few more miles, take it;  it's great. 

But today, I wanted to do a figure eight that included some of the western part of the county and one of the sweetest creekside rides out here, Hamby Road.  So, I turned up South Skyline, which starts level but in about a third of a mile turns into a good uphill climb to get your heart and lungs pumping.  Once on top, it's an easy ride and, once past some extravagant subdivisions and antenna farms, turns lovely as you follow curving rollers through a mostly wooded ridge crest back to Spickert Knob Road (it comes up the knob on your left) and on a gentle grade downhill back to St. Mary.  At Scottsville Road, watch for traffic as you turn left and book it back to Paoli Pike.  Now might be a good time for a coffee and bagel or morning muffin.  They roast locally, so the brew will be good.

From here, you backtrack west on Paoli Pike, just after the Post Office turn left on E. Luther Road and follow it back uphill to U.S. 150 and onward to Old Vincennes where you take a right and can enjoy a gleefully quick downhill back to Floyd Central H.S.  If you start here, you've done a good 15 miles or so, with lots of aerobic sections, hill climbs and shady country road down hills to put you in a good mood.

GREENVILLE/HAMBY ROAD LOOP

 If you want a bit more, about 17 miles more, keep heading due west on Old Vincennes.  Go straight through the stop sign in half a mile at Edwardsville-Galena Rd., and in about 150 yards go straight again (despite the yellow line curving left to John Pectol Rd.) to stay on Old Vincennes.  There's a testy little rise .4 miles ahead, but once up and over, it's smooth sailing.

After Featheringill, you pass a horse farm and ride over some rollers into a gentle downhill into the Indian Creek basin.  At early morning or evening dusk you might see a Great Blue Heron or deer along the creek before climbing out and up for a mile to Buttontown Road.  On your left is the old Greenville cemetery worth a check if you need to stretch after climb.

Turn right at Buttontown and you're heading due north towards Greenville.  Just after passing the park and before getting to U.S. 150, take a left on an unmarked street along a chain link fence.  It will bring you through the backside of Greenville where in less than a mile, you will come to Georgetown-Greenville Road.   On your left will be the neat-as-a-pin, beautiful, white United Methodist Church, which is celebrating its 108th anniversary this year.  If you need some drinks or a sandwich, the Greenville Mini-Mart is one block to your left and worthy of your patronage.

Turning left, you enjoy a gradual downhill ride southward out of town.  After passing some pretty cattle farms, the road turns right and quickly climbs up a rise, but it's not too bad.  Keep going and enjoy the better direction of the rollers that will take you down to Richland Creek, which you generally follow for a few more miles before the road ends at a T where you'll turn left. This is about 10 miles out from the high school.

As you continue along Georgetown-Greenville a couple more miles, you'll see the classic suburban fringe:  new single family homes along the county road like punctuating active farm fields of handsome corn and soy beans as you get back into the Indian Creek watershed.  After crossing the creek, keep a look out for Cooks Mill Road on your left, it appears quickly.  Take it and in only a third of a mile take another left onto Hamby Road and gear down to climb your last hill.  It's short and the last one of the day other than climbing back up to the Floyd Central

parking lot.

You'll quickly leave the soybean covered hilltop and start down.  BE CAREFUL, there is a wicked switchback to the right which you have to take s-l-o-w-l-y.  Once around it, let it go and enjoy one of the sweetest stretches in the county.  You follow the cooler air of wooded creek bed, see more farming, break out into the sun as you cross the creek bottom and re-enter the woods as the road ends in about 1.5 miles at Buttontown Road to your left and John Pectol to the right.  Turn right, cross the one-lane, wood plank bridge, and continue along similar shaded road (without the creek) about three  more miles back to Old Vincennes Road where you curve to the right and go .8 miles back to the high school.  

While the elevation changes sum up the same, this loop to me seems easier to do counterclockwise.  Maybe it's where they occur in the route, but the climb up from Indian Creek over the hill into Richland Creek drainage and the climbs up rollers back into Greenville seem more challenging.  So, on those days you need more pepper in your ride, take the loop clockwise.

Now's a good time for us all to be posting what we think are "best rides".

  

Wellsprung

It should be noted that I greeted the prospect of riding to Louisville with Ed and Terry with apprehension. I have confessed myriad times that I enjoy riding with my wife or alone, the whispers of alpha-competition do little but piss me off. That said we rode 28 miles (Ed and Terry, no doubt, more) and enjoyed lunch and rehydration at Cumberland. The highlight had to be encountering Mayor Jerry cycling himself in Butchertown and his admonition that we should all wear helmats. It would take Condi on rollerblades to trump that episode of hilarity. As I conifed to the guys, N and I usually cruise at 10-11 mph whereas these lads aim for 15 which left me pleasingly winded.

Mr G -- thanbks for the comment and, no, I hadn't checked the site recently and I have ammended my profile to include email. Cheers.

26.2 miles

10.3 miles

28.8 miles

Good times in Downtown Naaalbany..dog...

Went out for a leisurely ride around the city after the rain. Stepping out onto the porch, I was greeted by a wonderful punch to the lungs by the humidity. I don't think I've ever encountered humidity like last night.

So I hear thunder off in the distance, but felt that I still had a good 1/2 hour to just cruise down spring to the heart of downtown, then back up Market. Lot's of good jumps along the way. Overall it was a good little ride, but here's an observation I've made on my tours in Naaalbany.

Whether I invite it or not, it seems that I'm always the target of some type of commentary by locals. Or, I at least get the "brush-off" by a motorist, no matter how much room the car/truck has in the lane, it seems that I'm nearly rode into the gutter.

I don't know if it's the site of seeing a grown man on a kids bike, tattoos, or what, that compels the locals to make audible commentary, but for some reason, I kind of get bummed out that a guy can't simply go out for a peaceful bike ride in this town.

I know that the people out in the country side of floyd county are not exempt, as I had a guy deliberately ride me off the road up by the school in the Knobs...it's where if you climb Spickert Knob, then make a left at the top and ride that road to the 4 way stop and there's the lawn-mower store and you hang a right there. Well, last year, I'm just riding, going up the little climb after the school and I had this guy towing a front end loader drive right next to me, then slowly drifts to the outside of the road. He sees me roll off into the ditch there and then speeds off.

Good times I tell ya'!

Anyway's, it's always an adventure, no matter where I ride here in New Albany. Keep it safe out there and I'd like to hear if anyone else has the same experiences.

22 Miles

Went out late this afternoon (circa 17:00) and got in 22 plus miles in a mild sprinkle of rain that felt pretty darn good considering how thick the air was with humidity. Did some fab hills in the Knobs before a serious shower forced me home.

Jon perhaps we have a ride after work this week for a ten miler or so?

Chugging

The summer has witnessed an ongoing platform of 2-3 rides per week, along the lines of 7-10 miles, perfectly relaxing and capable in that narrow window of tolerable humidity and availible sunlight. I have been plagued by arthritis for years but as of late my right knee has been killing me. I was much relived after my solo ten mile ride yesterday to have some relief. I will likely tackle a similar track this afternoon.

22.4 Miles

Went out after the brief shower this morning and rode to Georgetown/Lanesville and back home in what would be typical Bay Area weather, less it being a little warmer and more humid. We take for granted the area in which we live and ride our bicycles. The hills here are such a wonderful way to train if you are planning on taking a bicycle vacation sometime. My thoughts toward such this morning came about after having a great ride and appreciation for where I live.

evening news coverage....

Thanks to Matt for doing the story...only one error though....the race isn't next weekend, it's July 26th-29th.


Racing is an adrenaline rush for local BMXersBY MATTHEW CRESS

Matthew.Cress@newsandtribune.com


Thirty more seconds of madness. That’s what New Albany resident and nationally-ranked BMX bicycle racer Tommy Board will be seeking as he prepares for a trip to Victoria, British Columbia next weekend to compete as part of Team USA in the 35-and-over class at the event.
And he won’t be alone.
Board will be joined by Clarksville native Weston Pope, a BMXer who once ascended as high as No. 8 in the world rankings in 2002, all while playing four seasons for the Generals’ basketball team.
It’s a trip that Board and Pope have waited for a long time, and now the question is whether all the preparation will be in vain.
It’s a question of money, mostly. Neither Pope nor Board make their livings from BMX racing, as of now riding as amateurs on the national circuit.
“My pro days have come and gone,” said Board, now at 36 calling himself a “old man” in the sport. He was also a professional rider from 1998 to 2004. “Now, there are more important things. It keeps me young at heart, keeps me in shape. My physical condition is the best it’s ever been.”
Pope is a younger man, riding in the 17-24 age group — among the fastest-growing groups in the sport, and the launching point for those who are on the verge of becoming professional riders and making a living in the unheralded sport.
Now, their presence at one the biggest events of their careers is in jeopardy, up in the air due to the lack of money in a sport that is rarely taken seriously in a local world that eats up more traditional sports.
“This will always be an area that is consumed with football and basketball,” Board said. “I’ve tried to get as much exposure for it as I can. This is not a game like tee-ball or soccer. BMX is more a way of life.”
An expensive way of life. Board has already covered the $300 fee to sign up and enter the Canadian race. But that doesn’t cover lodging, food, or a rental car for the trip which spans from June 24-29.
“We’ve got it estimated at $1,200-1700 at most,” Board said. “It’s a sport that you really need to be financially secure to do all the necessary traveling.”
BMX racing is once again on the upswing in the United States, after a decade of lean times and flagging participation following its peak boom of the 1980’s.
Tommy Board, racing for 25 years, has been there for all of it.
“Our class is the largest class, because the guys who are still riding are the kids who started during the 80’s and have stayed with it,” Board said. “The bottom dropped out in the 90’s, but there was a resurgence around ‘98.”

14.8 miles
note: Quarry Road is freshly paved

Bicycling Film

Please check out this short film of cycling in San Francisco titled Russian Hill Roulette. It is about 5 minutes long and has both Windows and Quick Time.
http://www.russianhillroulette.com/

Caltrain 22nd Street Station San Francisco,CA

racing the kiddos!!!

Over the weekend, a race dubbed "Battle of the Villes" took place in Evansville, Indiana. This is a 3 race series, where Louisville, Evansville and Nashville bring their best to compete against each other for braggin' rights of sorts.

I can't tell you how hot and muggy it was in Evansville, but at one point, I thought I saw the devil in turn 3..lol..

The turnout and atmosphere was great and I think everyone had a great time!

We did have a pro/am race. I decided to get in it and race the kiddos and show 'em the "old man" still has some pony's!!! lol...here's the video from that race. Keep an eye on the guy in red, ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRMP_SEAHBg

25 miles

24.7 Miles

First day back on the bike since returning from the Left Coast a week ago; still kicking myself for not taking it with me to South Carolina. Roger I'm glad your back on the bike, it must seem like starting over building both ends of the body if you get my drift.....

Help!

I've been researching airfares, hotels, license and entry fees for the UCI World Championships. I'm seeking the community for help! I have a legitimate shot at becoming the World Champion for my class, however I don't have the resources to pay for it all.

I have sponsors, yet they only pay for NBL sanctioned events.

I'm willing to cut your grass, wash your car, walk your dog...pretty much whatever. If there's a generous ear out there, willing to help please contact me. I'm sure that this cold be a tax deduction for something like this too, so any business looking for a tax deduction, the same goes for you.

The license and entry fees are $300.00
Airfare is ranging from $400.00 - $600.00
Hotel $100 per night, so that would add up to approx. 4 or 5 night $400.00 - $500.00

Those are the major expenses..through in food and it's looking to be about a $1500 - $2000 tab...

I'm humbly begging for help here...

V/R,

Tommy Board

USA Cycling BMX Championships

USA Cycling (USAC) had it's first BMX Championship in Waterford Mi. on June 9th. I participated in the 30 and over men and 35-39 cruiser classes and I had a shot at both titles, but fell a little short.

I slipped the gate in my 30 and over men's semi race and couldn't make the moves to get into the main event, however, I was able to make the main in the 35-39 cruiser class!!! I drew the perfect lane position and I felt that I was just 30 seconds away from becoming the first ever USAC Champion for our class. When the gate fell, I guess I was a little too excited and spun-out on the pad below, all the while the rest of class was boogie-ing down the first straight. I was able to make it back to 4th or 5th position on the second straight, but people were all over the place and I was pretty much pushed off the track. I think I finished 6th overall and i'm now qualified to represent Team USA at the UCI World BMX Championships in Victoria, Canada!!!

Now I just have to find a way to pay for this venture! lol... If there's anyone that would like to donate to the cuase, let me know!

Left Coast Bike Ride 2007

Well my 2007 edition of cycling in California has come to close. Over three hundred miles in seven days is actually down a bit from what we achieved last year, but had to trim things back a bit due to my buddy TR's recovery from knee surgery that is still causing him some discomfort. My personal rides in San Francisco and the Santa Cruz mountains were lost without my riding partner in tow, but very very rewarding. I did two streets in Frisco that according to my bike map are 20% grades. Some others streets were 10% plus grades. The new Cannondale bike was perfect and most helpful, kudos to Bob Peters for assisting me in the purchase. Bob made some recommendations for that type of riding and he was right on the money. Support you local bike shops for sure! I will try to place some photos and more detail of rides at a later date, I'm re-packing for a trip to Charleston, SC to see our son in the morning.....

Mr. G gets to Great Lake Erie

Preview: Time to wheel it in and wrap up about this Underground Railroad Tour adventure. I'm done. Access to broadband terminals (and free time) was sketchy on the road but I want to finish these notes. This post will catch me up to Lake Erie. One more will describe my gentleman's tour camping through the northeast's wine country and getting to Niagara Falls. A last post relating the pros and cons of my experience seems in order. Since I'm online again, I'll also field any questions.

I awoke rested, warm and dry after surviving semi-rig alley to get to the motel outside of Mansfield, OH. I was also off route, even off the map I carried showing the way to Oberlin. The Adventure Cycling Assoc. route required backtracking and a big left turn to get going the right way (North). I decided on freelancing the hypotenuse of the triangle on county roads into and through Ashland and picking up the route 20 miles later. A free county map at the desk helped me sort out a plan.

The sun shone brightly after the prior day's rain. A 15 to 20 mph head wind out of the north, though tough, now seemed a bargain compared to yesterday's weather. You just tuck, get as sleek as you can, use your gears and grind it out. A fast and easy downhill on U.S. 42 toward town seemed a good omen. Climbing up the other side of the gentle valley, before reaching Ashland's city limits, had me pay for every fun foot in altitude I used in that downhill. My friend David "Bump" Runge interchangably refers to these as "altitude and/or attitude adjustments" and anyone who's ventured farther than a 6-mile fun ride knows what he means. Soon after getting off the highway onto the main road into town (Claremont Ave.), I saw a one-horse Amish buggy coming towards me trotting at a spritely pace. I marveled then, and many days afterwards, about what "one horsepower" was capable.

Also reaffirmed was what poor judges of distance most people are. After passing a major intersection, I pulled off into a car dealership to double check my route. The owner was cordial, said he had passed me on U.S. 42 on his way to work, and assured me the downtown intersection for which I was looking was only a mile away. "A professional," I thought. He was off by almost 100 percent. Persistance found the interesection 1.8 miles later. This happened so many times it was noteworthy how people were wildly off in their estimates of distance, often by miles. So, check as often as you need but don't obsess. Making my way through 30-plus more miles into the wind also tamed me of watching the computer too closely. Like waiting for the tea kettle to boil, the miles don't pass if you're constantly watching them.

It was a long afternoon and no towns had cafes for a lunch break (an unfortunate fact related to our car-dominated modern life) until I got into a small burg called Sullivan with an intersection sporting a park, Masonic lodge, antique store and post office on one side and a small grocery store next to the volunteer fire department on the other. Good food becomes a hallmark of each day when cycling and the Sullivan Market delivered with a more than respectable ham and turkey sub dressed with fresh tomato and lettuce on a bun the girl assured me was "baked right here every day". A couple of root beers out of the cold case and I was revitalized for the final run to Oberlin. A 42-mile day mostly against the wind had me delighted to reach this destination, home of the first college in America to admit women and blacks and today still a beautiful, historic town crawling with students happy the school year had just ended. I downed a pint of Newcastle Ale at the local watering hole and then, sitting on the deck of my B&B host, called home to share the good news. That evening I pored over maps with my host, an experienced sailor and outdoorsman, considering a turn westbound along Lake Erie to make a loop homeward. We agreed, despite the logistics of getting back home, the one way route to Canada was more open-ended, adventuous and in keeping with the spirit of my trek.

I awoke with aches. While nothing seemed wrong, I could feel every muscle bundle in my thighs. Never having done a trip of this magnitude, discretion seemed wiser than pushing to an injury. I arranged a late morning hour with a massage therapist and left just after noon. Considering it a "recovery day", I pedaled only 30 miles through scudding clouds and occasional light drizzle to Medina where I treated myself in a fine restaurant on the town square to a great sushi dinner to celebrate Kathy and my wedding anniversary. I felt blessed but deeply missed her, our girls and home.

Under sunny skies next morning, I started east bound for Cayuhoga National Park and points beyond. Just five miles out of town I ran into some steep uphill rollers that I handled without strain, confirming the prior day's "easy mode" was a good decision. Later, after a delightful lunch in Peninsula with a couple cycling the tow path (Nate and April who posted a picture here earlier) there was nearly a mile long climb out of the valley. My legs felt strong and the break had done me good. Unfortunately, the skies darkened with threatening clouds and lowering temperatures soon after I reached Hudson, around 5 p.m. Several trys for lodging at local guest houses proved fruitless this Sunday evening, and I quickly moved on to Streetsboro where I could get a motel with breakfast thrown in. I was playing safe, but having left the National Park also meant all opportunities to camp were well behind me. Only 37 miles for the day, but I was out of the weather and able to get a nice diner before hitting the sack.

The next morning, Monday, the sun shone again and I was determined to get back on pace as I headed north. The weather held as I travelled through truly beautiful countryside east of Cleveland and into Amish country towards Ashtabula. I had my eye on a campground on the edge of town, but when I called ahead to inquire for a site with trees for my hammock, they said I "had to have a tent" to camp there. Unfazed and with sunny skies, the miles slipped away as I pushed on. Long lines of drying clothes at the Amish homes suggested they too were glad for sunny weather after the past three days of threatening skies. Blue jumpers, bib overalls, sheets, towels, T-shirts, bed spreads, most anything washable in the house was strung out taking advantage of the clear day. Sixty-one miles later, the last 8 on the Greenway Reserve Trail, I pulled into Austinburg and made arrangements for the night. A great day.

Tuesday, it was only another seven miles into Ashtabula on the shores of Lake Erie. I had to pass through all the town before getting to the rather industrial looking port and bridge over the Ashtabula River, but the wide, flat, green expanse of water as far as the eye could see was a major milestone in the trip. I stopped at the Hubbard House, one northern terminus of the Underground Railroad from which fugitives would have to cross only one quarter mile to the family's portside warehouse before catching a steamer (like the Indiana or Sultana) with a sympathetic Captain to be carried across to Canada. Today a historical museum, I was disappointed to read on the door it wouldn't open until Memorial Day, the official beginning of summer in these northern parts. I pushed off to see the lake and head eastward for lunch in Conneaut ("Conny-aut") another 11 miles out and ending the day after 50 miles in Erie, PA, where I stayed with a gracious family who hosted me with a cookout, visiting friends and a taste of the finer wines I could expect in the coming season. All along the day's ride, I was surprised by flowering redbud trees, dogwoods, lilacs and rhododendrons and cool breezes off the lake. The wonderful Spring weather just added to the delight of having made it without serious mishap 721 miles from home. (Knock on wood) with

Keep 'em coming.

It's a different sensation for me to be living vicariously through the rides of other -- Tommy down South, Mr. G up North, and Edward now out West.

Meanwhile, I'm told by my surgeon that in three weeks, maybe I can go out for a bicycle ride, it being suggested that by then the shoulder will have healed sufficiently to make the risk of reinjury lower.

It's been killing me not to be able to ride; January was the last time in the saddle. It's the longest I've been off the bike since taking up the sport again in 1999. Walking's okay, and my walking legs are back, but the biking legs are gone. It's looking like late June or early July, and devoting the remainder of the year to rehabbing for a big comeback in 2008.

Thanks for posting, guys. I've really been enjoying the accounts.

'Twas a Dark and Stormy Night (and the suspicious Christian minister said "hit the road")

Day 11--Can we spell h-y-p-o-t-h-e-r-m-i-a?
Last post, I was avoiding grey skies and rain squalls in Bellville's public library. After a couple hours, I summoned the persistence to get going. Nothing looked good outside but finding out what the road would bring was at the heart of my venture and trumped the alternatives. Sometimes you just have to push off and go.

Six miles down the Mohican Valley trail to Butler, it started raining again and I ducked into the public park shelter to pull out rain gear and hope for another break in the weather. It was in the low 50's and riding in this rain wasn't like summertime 80's when you don't care if you're getting wet. I hung out almost an hour, visiting with a group of high school students also waiting for the rain to pass so they could shoot baskets. When the sun broke through the clouds, I wish them well and set off again. I didn't get a mile out of town before the skies opened up again, this time for keeps. At the side of the road, I quickly pulled on pants, boots, gloves and a rain poncho as a farmer rolled past on a huge tractor heading back to his barn. It was too wet for field work.

The road was hill climbs and rollers over the next seven miles--long, steep climbs up to ridge tops followed by scary, fast down hills in the wet conditions before another hard, cranking climb up to the next ridge--and the full rain gear just made me hot. I haven't got this figured out. Working hard leaves you wet from the rain or from the sweat building up inside your protective gear and modern, pricey GoreTex fabrics don't "breathe" anywhere enough to keep you comfortable. After an hour of this, I was thinking hard of an alternative, like getting out of the weather. Thankfully, about four miles later, the rain let up and I was able to start peeling off some layers. The best thing about riding in the rain is being outside as it stops, the rafts of clouds separate and sun begins to again bathe the earth. It is always beautiful.

As I approached Charles Mills Lake south of Mifflin, a large Corps of Engineers flood control resevoir with recreational facilities, I thought everything would resolve into a camp ground there. A nice looking, rustic but refined restaurant appeared around a bend and I pulled over to dry out, eat and avoid having to cook for the night. But the clearing skies were bringing cooler air and falling temperatures. When I left after dinner, not completely dried out, I felt very cold on the bike, even with tights, long-sleeved jersey, and jacket zipped up tight. This didn't go away.

At Mifflin, site of the campgrounds, I feared a wet night in low 40 degree temperatures might mean shivering most of the night with little real sleep and a ruined tomorrow. I pulled over for directions at a coffee shop which had just closed but still had one car parked outside. The proprietress was inside roasting a batch of coffee and she invited me, offered me a warm cup of coffee and in an hour and a half conversation we got acquainted, shared family pictures, a tour of the 19th century cabin she had renovated into this beautiful place and broached the suggestion I could just sleep on the floor in front of the fire place until she came back early next morning to serve a breakfast group coming in. She just needed to call her husband, a second-shift manager at GM who also pastored a church. Ah, the thought of Christian charity soothed my weary bones.

It took nearly an hour to reach his cell phone and she retreated into the back kitchen when speaking with him. My chance of solace ended when she came back out, handed me the phone and said, "you speak to him".
"I'm sorry, but with the world the way it is, I want you out of there right now," the voice of the Rev. GM-Manager said at the other end of the line.
It was 8:45 p.m., getting dark, and as much as I wondered which part of the equation he placed himself and me on "the world the way it is" scale, I knew his wife's opinion and personal assessment of me didn't matter.
"Hey, it's your place, O.K., I can be out of here within 10 minutes but can you tell me where is the nearest motel?"
And in a vibe so typical of the day's weather, he tells me of a place 1.5 miles away where U.S. 30 and I-71 intersect and the caring wife opens the yellow pages and circles what she thought was the recommendation. I call ahead to confirm I'm coming and ask the East Indiana woman at the other end, "You're east of I-71, right?" In a heavy accent, she says "Yes, est", which I took to confirm they were close.

Dusk was ending as I turned left onto U.S. 30 westbound looking for signs of a motel before the interchange a mile away. No such luck. I get to the Interstate and call the motel again. "Yes, we are est of the Interstate," she tells me again. A partner gets on the line and clarifies they are two more exits West, another two miles. I rig a flashing red rear lamp and a headlight as darkness falls and start pedaling as best I can along a thankfully wide shoulder as car-carriers, flatbeds and tractor trailer rigs go booming past. The whole two miles is uphill. I expect the CB radios crackling with "We've got some idiot out here on a bike on the right shoulder, better cut him a wide berth," and am praying I don't get rolled over by a dozing driver. All I want is to get off this road, get off this road, get off this road and my heavy breathing stifles uncharitable thoughts of the Reverend's demeanor with his church and lines I could add to his sermons.

When I finally make the exit ramp, the view is of an indigo Western sky with a clear, delicately etched, new crescent moon just getting ready to set. A new phase of the journey has begun. And, after about 20 minutes of soaking in a bathtub full of hot water, the tingling sensations in my cold feet go away.

Tanglewood Picture

35 expert main event Tanglewood 2007 Day 1

Board, JT, LC, Meaker...

Tanglewood North Carolina National

Put another weekend in the books for the National Bicycle League's National BMX racing season. With gas prices killing everyone's wallet, it was the smallest national I have been to. 106 motos on day one and 90 something on day two. Usually, this is a 175-200 moto national.

Day 1 got off to a rough start. Pulled 2nds in class all day until the main and had to settle for a third. In cruiser action, started off the first round with a 3rd, but 2nd and 3rd rounds I came back to pull first and eventually winning the main.

Day 2 was a little different in class. 3rds all 3 rounds of motos and then put together a great lap for a 2nd behind my team mate. Cruiser was all first.

The team didn't gain any ground on the team leaders, however, we did win both days of team comp.

The Tanglewood facility was awesome with a lot of shade, stuff for the kiddos to do and great volunteers!

Next stop is the USAC U.S. Championships in Waterford, MI. Should be a who's who for this race and the winner gets their own U.S. Champion jersey!

15.2 miles

32.4 miles

15 miles

Mr. G update.

An update on Greg's progress along the Underground Railroad route, courtesy of his wife Kathy:

New York state ... already through PA and into NY ... Greg's less than 40 miles to Buffalo and to Niagara Falls. He's getting great views of Lake Erie, and planning on spending several days at the American and Canadian sides of the falls. He's decided that the journey will be ending here, rather than pushing further into Canada, and is looking into renting a car after the holiday weekend to get home. He's on top of the world.

Thanks!!!

I just wanted to thank Mayor Garner for taking time out and meeting with me today about bringing BMX back to New Albany. It's not a done deal and it's far from even being put into motion, however, it was just a cool thing for a busy man to take time out to meet with me and show interest!

I feel that a BMX track in New Albany would be a very good thing and we all would benefit from such a facility. Shoot...maybe somebody will revive New Albany Schwinn?!?!?

tommy

34.2 miles

Update: Mr. G crossing into Pennsylvania today.

Here's another update on Mr. G's progress along the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, courtesy of wife Kathy. It was received this morning.

Greg continues to make good progress and is in good shape. He has worked his way northeast through Ohio, and is currently just south of Lake Erie, near Ashtabula OH. The attached photo is in Oberlin OH with newly-made friends, met at a restaurant. He's making occasional use of his foul weather gear, and has encountered some cold and windy conditions. Luckily, he's had a few home stays, and checked into a few motels when it was just too darned miserable to camp out. He plans to cross into PA today and spend the night in Erie PA, anticipating a more level ride as he parallels the lake coastline. So, all is well, but I'll continue to hold my breath a bit as I think of those 18-wheelers blowing past him ...

17.4 miles

39.4 miles on my new wheels

20.4 miles

Central Ohio--Frosty Night Coming Up

Believe me, it's not about the miles. There is so much else that is the reward of a trek, not just keeping your head down sweating out a long conversation between your heart and some target zone. Yes, you have to cover ground and today, ten days out, I am 476 miles along the way. If we don't count the rest day in Maysville, I've averaged about 53 miles a day. I'm pleasantly surprised, but face it, whether on a trek or at home, days vary.
After leaving Maysville, a short visit to famous minister and Underground Railroad activist John Rankin's home, up a half-mile hill above Ripley, OH, turned into a two-hour stay chatting with Prof. Todd, a Phd. candidate at University of Kentucky, who works summers with the Ohio State Historical Society. Overlooking the broad sweep of the Ohio, he fed me with stories of the area, Rankin's operations and those of free blacks like John Parker (whose Phoenix Foundry was the largest ironworks between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati) and in which creek draws on the Kentucky side fugitive slaves would approach the river.
You have to take time when such opportunities arise and, Prof. Todd traded my attentiveness with "better route" up river and up the valley hills to East Fork State Park, my destination for the day. The route's advantage was requiring the equivalent of only one climb up Paoli Pike instead of two, but it was still about 7 p.m. when I arrived at the State Park, and at the southern end instead of 10 miles further where the formal campgrounds were. Fifty-five miles, a significant climb, stick a fork into me, I was done.
While calculating off of which trail or service road I was going to "stealth camp" for the night, a strapping, white-haired 65-year old gentleman out on his Specialized triathalon bike pulled along side. He was sweating bullets and said he was working out "to open up his arteries" in preparation for a 150-mile ride the next day. He assured me the area really was unpopulated and confimed my plan. I told him about my Hennessy Hammock, plans to make couscous with olive oil, chicken and pine nuts and then climb into my sleeping bag and go to bed. He smiled and said, "Simple. And life is good." We parted after sharing an experience of what I call "the brotherhood of the wheel": like-minded people viewing the world from the wonderfully crazy contraption called a bicycle.
I won't belabor how one stays civilized stealth camping without showers doing 50-plus miles a day, but suffice it to say it involves wet wipes, as many as it takes to wipe yourself down from head to toe. You remain better company with yourself and don't frighten people when you stop to chat with them.
The couscous was great and more than I could finish. The next morning I'm sitting on one bucket pannier heating water with my mountain stove on the other while I made coffee and reheated leftovers for breakfast. More olive oil, pine nuts and a few shakes of hot sauce made a lively and nutritious breakfast to get me on my way.
Twenty-two miles got me to lunch at Milford, OH and the Little Miami Trail, a 70-mile rails-to-trail conversion Ohio seems to have done plenty with. I called home to wish happy Mother's Day to Kathy and the girls and then spent Sunday afternoon amid hundreds of people of all shapes, ages and skill levels out enjoying the newly mild weather. I made another 25 miles before tucking into a canoe livery/campground along the river. Being Sunday night, the campground was practically deserted. I washed, just snacked and got cozy for a night in the 40's while the sound of water riffles over a gravel bar lulled me to sleep.
For those of us used to roads in rural, urban and suburban areas, rails-to-trail conversions seem almost miraculous. The Little Miami Railroad was the first West of the Allegheny Mountains and, boy, did those surveyors do a good job through what in the early 1800's was forest primeval. Gentle grades carry you through miles and miles of riparian woodlands, skirt farms and glance through small towns that still survive despite their distance from the bustle and commerce of the Interstate Highway system. To those who risk roads on a regular basis, these trails are unusually calm, almost mesmerizing, even a touch monotonous. But they are good and right and necessary as alternatives to our car-addled culture and we should all start advocating and supporting their development where we live.
During the next two days I passed thousands of acres of black-soil farmland but never saw a roadside stand. If necessary, community gardens could easily spring up to feed local communities, much as the "truck farms" dotted towns where I grew up as a kid in northern Illinois. But what I saw this week was acre on acre of corn and soybeans planted to supply the industrial food systems on which we now rely. Feed stock, oil and fiber, vegetable proteins, perhaps even ethanol for our cars. It had been sunny and all these three-inch sprouts swirling in rows like Maori tatoos across the landscape looked a little dry, liked they needed a good soaking to really get on with summer's growth.
Rain was forecast for late Tuesday, vicious squalls in fact with 40-mile per hour winds and the possibility of hail. Luckily for me, strong southwesterly winds preceded the approaching front and urged me on my way.
One of my planned stops was Wilberforce, named after the Englishman who convinced the British Parliament to outlaw the slave trade 30 years before the United States did. (The recent movie "Amazing Grace" is about his efforts and it got excellent reviews.) This is also why fugitive slaves often had Canada, not yet a nation but British territory, as their ultimately safe destination. Today, Wilberforce is home to two colleges and the National Afro-America Museum and Cultural Center. When I stopped at "the depot" in Xenia, where three rails-to-trails converge (God, does Ohio have it right!) I phoned ahead only to discover the center was closed on Sundays and Mondays. It became an easy day as I just pedaled up to Yellow Springs, home of Antioch College, to my first home visit of the trip.
Since it's not about bikes or the UGRR, I'll go light on the details. But my friend who grew up in Shively and Pleasure Ridge Park, spent a lot of business time in the Bay Area during the '60's and '70's chose to settle in this progressive little community in 1981 and voices very few regrets about his choice. Conservancy green belts, great food, intellectual stimulation and no rush hour are all part of the charm of this village east of Dayton.
My weekend couscous had me missing a decent tomato, so I had phoned ahead to say I wanted to make bruschetta after I pedaled in. Richard, way beyond me in kitchen skills, knew where to shop for fresh mozarella, Italian parsley, and good wines and then blew me completely off by grilling duck breasts with a cherry pepper glaze, red and yellow sweet peppers and portobello mushrooms and a salad of baby greens (from his window boxes) with pistachio oil and an aged balsamic vinager nearly as thick as molasses. I pitched in a 2005 Covey Run Gewurtztraminer from Washington's Columbia Valley (we took the dog for a mile walk after this and the bruschetta before grilling) and a 2003 Piegaia Chianti Classico. My God, how simple. Life is good.
The next day, aided by the following wind, I made a record 79-mile run and tucked into a small camping cabin at Alum Creek State Park to ride out the storm. If it thundered or hailed, I never heard it, only the steady rain which started around midnight and lasted til about 9 a.m. In my minds ear, I could hear all those corn and soybean sprouts gurgling in delight.
During the day, I met a rider from Columbus who was "doing a 16-mile loop" and while we pumped together sharing tales he talked about going to Italy each year for biking vacations (Tuscany, this fall). I snacked at small town milk shake stands and little groceries, which road karma requires you to patronize as thanks for their existence and persistence on the landscape (no fast food joints yet). The epitome though was in Rathbone, a mere intersection south of Delaware where I needed to stop (after 67 miles) and figure out where I would shelter myself from the approaching storm. Scioto Valley Bait Shop, the sign said, but they had pation tables outside and signs announcing wood fired oven pizza! In one room was the bubbling minnow tank and next door these gods and goddesses of the road weary traveler, were making caesar and caprese salads from scratch (fresh mozarella and slice tomatoes on pesto foccacia all drizzled with olive oil) and fresh pizzas baked in a marvelous oven on a trailer out in the side parking lot.
I mean, what are the odds of that? I stayed and ate and laughed for an hour and a half before busting out the last dozen miles to the state park. Remember, (and Ed, we must talk about this when I get back) it is not about the miles.
Wednesday, approaching Amish country, I rode through beautiful, wet fields and small towns punctuated by oaks and cottonwoods. Over hill and dale, stopping for lunch at a small town's grocery, gas pump and cafe (all in one building plastered inside with posters of beer girls and NASCAR drivers) I made my way to Bellville for a home visit and potluck with nine new friends from the local Unitarian fellowship. The small, rugged stone church built in 1894 in this village of barely 2,000 souls suggested another example of something right about Ohio (though they assured me the politicians here are not part of that picture). My gracious hostess and the good company's discourse allowed me to digest the road already traveled and that yet to come.
Today started in the low 40's with showers passing through and a good wind kicking up from the north. That's why I'm here in the library on the computer, tipping my hat in your direction and telling a bit of this tale. I've got my tights and rain jacket on, neoprene gloves and over boots ready if I run into rain. I'll be camping tonight somewhere between Bellville and Oberlin. They forcast a frost tonight, so it'll be an experience. Fleecies, windbreaker, down bag, stocking hat. But, oh, that hot oatmeal and coffee will probably taste really good in the morning.

Remember, Friday, May 18 is national Bike to Work Day. I'll be pedaling into Oberlin. You all make a statement on the roads back home.

15.8 miles

Mr. G now well into Ohio.

Here's a new update from wife Kathy on Greg's trip.

Hi all, I've heard from Greg...he's tucked into a sleeping hut at Alum Creek State Park OH, in anticipation of predicted storms moving thru tonight. The state park is NW of Columbus OH. He had a great day today---79 miles of pretty countryside. Altogether we figure he's made about 425 miles so far, and holding out pretty well. He reports sunburn, but otherwise in good shape. Last night was his first night to sleep in a bed, and I hear it felt just great. He spent the night in the home of the son of a church friend of ours. All in all, he remains very pleased with progress...so the story continues to unfold.

Oh, the beautiful Ohio!

--Maysville, KY, four days out, about 206 miles underwheel. No problems but some formidable hills between Carrolton, KY and here. A few I shall never forget.

If I succumbed to all the worldly tempations to become a grouch (I yet resist), I would blame my situation on Roger for planting the alluring idea of bicycle touring about a year ago with his talk of Bavaria, the Czech Republic and large pints of delicious beer. I would blame Ed Parish for sharing that great 16-mile loop around New Albany, which I took many times last summer while my fair daughter was at swim team practice at Camille Wright pool. I would blame Debbie Harbeson for her delightful late summer post about weekend ride that included ing up Corydon Pike.

You, and others, urged me on with this and now I am out in the middle of it all, far away, on a bike?!!

Verging on old coot, (60 later this summer), the thought something grand, expansive, larger than I could see appealed to both the 12-year old inside and the now grey uncertain what more aging would bring.

Hell, why not go 1,000 miles on a bike, get sunburned, get rained on, camp out in woods and pastures, meet strangers and see immense skies full of stars at night? When the Adventure Bicycling Association (www.adv-cycling.org) came up with its only second historical-themed national trail, the Underground Railroad, it clicked. Ride north, follow the drinking gourd, follow Spring and extend the cool weather, it all made sense.

Between central Indiana and Eastern Ohio were 15 major crossings for blacks fleeing slavery to the Northern states and ultimate freedom in Canada. Over the past few years, I met and spoke with historians Pam Peters in Floyd County, Jeannie Burke in Clark County and Dr. J. Blaine Hudson at University of Louisville and started to learn about the history of the Underground Railroad, arguably the nation's largest civil disobediance movement that cut across lines of race, education, economic standing and social class.

So, with that as intellectual companion, along with the 12-year old's curiosity, I set off last Monday from the Carnegie Center (go see their exhibit, "Common people, Uncommon Courage", it is one of the best of its kind).

No, I did not become a hardbody fanatic like Ed before leaving. February was so damn cold, I could get off my Nordic Trac and onto a bike until March. But I ride and explore, mostly the western side of the county from Georgetown to Starlight and Greenville to N. Skyline Drive.
I did the loop down to New Albany and up Corydon Pike several times and friends Joe Ward and David Runge took me for a test ride, fully-loaded from Memphis up and out 160 over Pixley Knob on the way to Pekin and back before pronouncing me "ready to go".

I am still training into the trip. Fifty seven miles up to Clifty Falls day one was civilized and included a nice lunch at the Copper Kettle in Charlestown, but my butt was still sore when I got there.
Through Madison and over that skinny bridge into Milton, KY and then up 36 along the river to Carrolton was still a shakedown. No problems and the bowl of vegetable soup with corn bread and as much sweetened ice tea I could drink (they even filled my bottles before I left) at Welch's Restaurant for $3.85 holds the hallmark of hospitality and value. The two-mile climb ing up to Easterday was the trip's first serious altitude challenge but was soon followed by crossing I-71 and an exhilerating four-mile downhill spree down to Eagle Station.

I camped outside of Sparta that night, once cattle and tobacco country now tatooed by NASCAR images because of the new 1 1/2 mile track there. Trains rumbled by most of the night, their horns seldom woke me and morning brought a beautiful, mist-filled valley in which cows were still lowing their appreciation.

At breakfast at Marty Miler's "Quick Stop", where Mary McKenzie makes sandwiches so large they fall off the bread for $3, they warned me that what was behind me was no problem, "Now up to Folsom, that's a hill." Pedaling under sunny skies along Eagle Creek and the CSX grade made for a nice warm up, but that hill was "a real hill". It didn't take long, even down on my 26 inch grany gear, for my knees to ache and muscles to start shaking. Before losing balance and my whole rig a jumped off panting and sweating rivulets. Trudging up, pushing 28 pounds of bike with another 35 pounds of gear, trying not to get caught on the pedal or the panniers, I swear parts of that climb were near a 30 degree slope. I'm not sure how the formula works, but looking straight ahead, from eye level it wasn't but 90 feet before five feet in altitude was covered.

I later was able to ride up a similar climb out of Grassy Creek up to Hwy. 27 and into Falmouth, but going north from there to Kinkaid Lake S.P., there was another third mile of the steepest incline I had ever seen. Late in the day, pouring sweat, working to broach the crest, I was humbled. But 200 miles out, it seemed no shame to continue, even if I had to walk and push my dream over a few tough hills along the way.

Yesterday was like a five-hour workout at the gym, mostly pumping up rollers along ridge tops to Lenoxburg, Brooksville (fantastic sandwiches at Shari's Family Cafe, f/k/a (sic) Empirial Chile), Germantown and into Maysville. No problems, but I am taking a rest day to let my legs recover here where there is a library, bike shop and a few nice restaurants

Simple gratitude for: courteous drivers who slow down and pass safely and then wave or honk when they do; hot water showers at the end of the day, oh, Lord do they feel good; curious kids and kind people who merely say, "you're doing what?"; and how frequently the tale of your own adventure opens people up with smiles and advice and sharing all sorts of stories about their lives, their community and what's good about this all.

I'm going to check out the pub for lunch and see if they have a proper ale, porter or stout to quench my deepened thirst. Cheers.

Mr. G hits the trail, and we'll keep you posted on his progress.

The great adventure has started for Greg Gapsis, a.k.a. Mr. G, who departed Monday morning for his month-long bicycle expedition northwards from New Albany past Niagara Falls to the shores of Lake Huron in Ontario province.

Greg is following the newly minted Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. Interestingly, the first group of cyclists to travel the entire 2,100-mile route passed through New Albany last week and visited the permanent exhibition at the Carnegie Center.

New Albany Tribune: “Riding the Underground: Cyclists pass through Southern Indiana on 2,100 mile trek.”

Mr. G’s communications are likely to be sporadic, but he’s included me on the list of e-mail contacts, and if he’s unable to report himself, wife Kathy will be disseminating information so we can bike vicariously through him. Here’s the first:

Hi all, Kathy here to give a brief update on Greg's progress. He started out this morning (Monday, May 7) at 9:30 a.m. from the Carnegie Center in New Albany, under blue skies and crisp spring temps. Fifty-seven miles later, he is at a campground in Madison IN, has had a hot shower and a reconstituted freeze-dried supper, and is feeling tired but pleased with the day. No report of any major forgotten items at home! He is hoping to ride about 50 miles tomorrow to Sparta campgrounds in KY, and about 50 miles the next day to Concord - both in hilly land in Northern KY. I'll send periodic updates as things progress ... thanks to you all for rooting for him as much as I am! He appreciates your interest and support.

Here are some links about the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route:

NA Confidential: Bicycle path through New Albany: The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

Adventure Cycling Association
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article
Other links at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

'bout time!

it's been a long time since i've been able to post on here. not that i had much time to post with school in full-swing. with a teeny-tiny break i just wanted to remind everyone that if you are bored with you current riding settings, i urge everyone to take a trip over to E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park. we(derby city bmx) are getting our season off to a remarkable start, with a lot of the "old school" riders coming back to the racing scene. however, you don't have to be a "racer" to enjoy our track. it's open 7 days a week, dawn til dusk. it's closed only when: there's a race, or the track is too wet.

i've been contacted by our local government and there seems to be a small interest in bringing BMX to New Albany. i'm putting together a presentation that hopefully will demonstrate the benefits of bringing this sport to our community. wish me luck!

with the interest of our local government in cycling, i started to think about how New Albany could possibly become a serious cycling community! i believe i've read it right here @ NABC about how we have a bridge in our city, where you could convert the former car lanes into bike lanes and allow people to commute to work more easily.

with gas prices as a staggering 3 bucks per gallon (yes, we have it ez, compared to our over seas counterparts) and no signs of coming down anytime soon, how difficult would it be to open this up for commuting? don't answer that just yet...lol...

think about it. becoming a cycling town and revitalizing downtown, New Albany could become the place were we live, eat and sleep, while having an easy commute to downtown louisville. what i mean by that, is our downtown becomes a home for residence, artist galleries, bike shops, pubs, amongst other entertainment venues. i could see cycling lanes everywhere, with bike lock-ups on every corner.

here's another point to ponder. it's been shown that people who participate in at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 3 x's a week improves health significantly! the benefits are HUGE! it's proven that it lowers high blood pressure, helps with weight management, improves mood!, raises HDL (good cholesterol) and lowers LDL (bad cholesterol), significant energy improvement, so instead of coming home and crashing on the couch, you have more energy to spend with your kids, or get yard work done. helps manages insulin level for people with diabetes, strengthens bones preventing arthritis.

your health is also improved, because cardiovascular exercise stimulates the immune system, warding off infections, so less time is spent using health care expenditures, time off from work and the crappy feeling of just being sick.

becoming healthier physical, mentally and socially allows us to reach self-actualization and we as a community we become more healthy. also, who actually likes driving in that mess of a morning rush hour? i'm not saying you have to commute by bike everyday either. yes, it rains, or you have things that require a car on certain days. there's been times, where i've dropped my children off at daycare, then i come home and ride my bike to U of L. BTW, it takes approx. 20 minutes to get from oak street to the u of l campus by bike. that's generally what it takes by car, if not more.

well..i've babbled enough this morning....

have a great week!!!

More on the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

In today's Tribune:

Riding the Underground: Cyclists pass through Southern Indiana on 2,100 mile trek.

I referenced this at here and at NAC a while back: Bicycle path through New Albany: The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

Here's an excerpt from the most recent newspaper article. It's Mr. G, who registered here a week or so ago. If there's time, he might report in during the journey.

Local man ready to roll

Anticipating his 60th birthday this summer, Greg Gapsis plans to finish a long bike ride while he’s still in his 50s.

A history buff, the IU Southeast instructor and former reporter for The Evening News and The Tribune decided he would take the Underground Railroad route from New Albany to Canada.

“For me it’s a combination of historical curiosity, taking up cycling as a personal health matter and doing something challenging with a broad concept to celebrate my birthday,” Gapsis said.

We Ride Again!

For those of you who had such a good time commenting about my "Barco Lounger" bike saddle, I get the last laugh.

Following my recent surgery I had my doubts about ever being able to straddle a bicycle again. Yesterday due largely to the boredom of cabin fever, I took the orange beast off it's hook, aired up the tires, rolled the dice, and headed downtown.

I made from my home on Spring Street to Pearl and back without incident. This is one of many hurdles I've cleared in the last three months and second only to coming out of the drug induced fog that I came home from the hospital with. This is FREEDOM to move about!

I'm a bit sore this morning due to using muscles that have been dormant for almost 90 days, but nothing like I had expected.

I'm far from being able to do double digit mileage, but at least I think I'll be able to get to the pub in the near future.

Happy Riding All!!

15.3 miles

35 miles

18 miles

Yeah, that's right: Kitty litter bucket panniers.

Thanks to Mr. G for this web link for kitty litter bucket panniers.

Bicycle path through New Albany: The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

Bicycle path through New Albany: The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.

16 miles

14.2 HILLY* miles
*Old Vincennes(both lower and upper),Camp Ave, Silvercrest and Oakland

Wim Wenders

An early Sunday marked our first time pedalling since the faux-spring suffered its apt demise amonth or so ago. We managed 15 miles and I really wanted to ride in Louisville but the Second Street Bridge was still closed, the streets surrounding such were literally choked with debris as few of the unfortunate were seen sleeping in the viaducts under the bridge. One has to admire the present priorities. It WAS a divine day for cycling regardless.

32.5 miles

19.8 miles

18.3 miles

Old Urbanism?

Having ridden three times in the last eight days, finding sufficient analogy to my reading of Peter Ackroyd to broach manifold topics while cycling with the Missus. It was certainly then unique to cycle out alone today, finding solace in the sun, the proliferation of political signs and the signs of relative urban despair. There is a slow motion crisis of undereducation in this burg, cycling yields both an intimacy with such as well as the means of extrication.

21.7 miles

0 miles.

Sigghhhhh ... doctor's orders, natch ... physical therapy's ahead of schedule, and I feel good. It's looking like June at the earliest.

15 miles

24.5 miles

21 miles

Lennon/McCartney

yesterday was divine: the first day of Spring, Ed's birthday and signpost registering four and a half years of marriage: coupled with perfect cycling weather, it couldn' possibly be surpassed. My wife and I rode eight miles, noting the riverfront construction which will alter our normative route. It was an invigorating return to the saddle.

Nah, not gone yet.

I haven't given up on the promise of this site, as envisioned by Ed last year, except that it isn't the best time for me to be leading the cycling charge -- and not because February was cold as hell.

On March 27, I'm having outpatient surgery for a shredded rotator cuff in my left shoulder, and this will put me out of two-wheel action for a couple of months. My surgeon ordered me off the bike in January so that I wouldn't hurt the shoulder any worse, and those of you who know me can attest to how disruptive it's been to be forced to drive to work every day after logging 2,700 miles last year on the hybrid.

The other news with me is a good omen for biking season, 2007, once it begins: 40 lbs lighter than last year, and hoping that fewer components snap this time around.

These comments are placeholders only. When the weather gets warm and I'm able to get back on the road, it is my hope to revive this blog. Stay tuned.

Went to Lexington, Viginia for the Blue Ridge National. The track was one of the best this season so far. The 2nd straight was blast and had many lines to take through it.

I got the wins on both days. Here is a pic of the main event coming down the first straight over the step up. I'm #401.

Another local BMXer, Weston Pope pretty much commanded his class all weekend. Weston was riding super strong, pulling people at will down the 3rd straight.

New Albany Bicycle Coalition

NBL Christmas Classic @ Columbus, Ohio.

Went to the next hardest race on the National Bicycle League's national schedule and did well. We had over 40 people in our class, which gave us quarter finals, so that was good points for our team.

I ended up with a perfect on day one and on day two, I was working on another perfect score, but my gate start was a step slow and ended third.

Another local hotshoe, Weston Pope blew me away! Weston races in the 17-24 Expert class and he cleaned up! This class is the proving grounds for future pros and Weston is on his way to superstardom!

The pic is from day 1, me leading the old dudes into turn one.